CFS: Action Needed for Global Hunger and Malnutrition

In a five-day meeting in Rome, the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) called for action in response to the continuing unacceptable high levels of global hunger and malnutrition. Specific key issues that were deemed important were those related to food security and nutrition such as land tenure and international investment in agriculture, food price volatility, and protracted food crises due to conflict and natural disasters. An improved strategic approach to hunger was sought through collaborative international efforts.

CFS requested its high-level panel of experts to make recommendations regarding "causes and consequences of food price volatility, including market distorting practices and links to financial markets, and appropriate and coherent policies, actions, tools and institutions to manage the risks linked to excessive price volatility in agriculture."

"It's very important that finally, member governments have recognized that non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society organizations (CSO) have a role to play institutionally. CSOs are directly in contact with the people going hungry and living in poverty and they are able to bring that reality to the discussions," said Noel Luna, Chair of the CPS.

See the FAO press release at http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/46665/icode/.